"I am..."
While I was pondering how to clear up this misunderstanding, Daniel spoke first.
He turned to look at his father standing beside him, and after a moment of contemplation.
"...I am a security guard for my employer. I apologize."
“No!”
I'm going crazy!
Then I came to hire you for security! Why else would I hire you?
"Hey! I think you've greatly misunderstood something..."
I was fumbling around trying to come up with words, but I couldn't find the rest.
If you've decided to kidnap a handsome man, you could reassure him that you have no ulterior motives, and then change your story later, right?
No matter what comes out of my mouth, having already lost trust, it will not sound like the truth.
Eventually, I swallowed a sigh and looked back at Ryan.
What else can I do? I have to send out an SOS.
I pulled his ear and whispered.
"I'm sorry I couldn't tell you in advance, but this is Fhrista's boyfriend. I came because I wanted to let her meet him since she hasn't been able to see him."
"What?!"
Ryan was surprised. Staring blankly at Daniel to grasp the situation, he pushed me and stepped forward.
"Don't misunderstand. The reason I asked about your love life was to gauge how faithfully you could perform your bodyguard duties. The guy I fired this time was too engrossed in his relationship."
Wow, as expected, our lion is the best.
Daniel's eyes widened at his quick and natural handling of the situation.
Then, looking at me as if at a loss, he bowed deeply.
"I, I am sorry! I misunderstood... I was rude due to unnecessary worry. I am truly sorry. I sincerely apologize."
"Haha, no problem. It’s okay to misunderstand. I’m not the kind of narrow-minded person to get offended by every little thing like this, so don’t worry!"
"Um... ah, I'm really sorry."
“I said it’s okay.”
I was briefly misunderstood as a crazy woman trying to buy a handsome man's body with money, but it doesn't matter since it wasn't the truth anyway.
On the contrary, it’s not a bad gain to have confirmed that Daniel is a true man who cuts off impure offers with a sharp blade!
“Are you meeting anyone?”
Ryan joined in. Daniel immediately shook his head.
"No."
“Whoa!”
I cheered. Ryan and Daniel turned to look at me at the same time.
"...Daniel, I got carried away with excitement at being able to hire you."
"Thank you for looking upon me kindly despite my lack of skill. However, if I am a dedicated bodyguard, shouldn't I be taking on separate work from the guild like I am now?"
"No. That won't work. If you sign the contract, you would have to come into our house and provide 24-hour close protection for a young lady who doesn't have a separate bodyguard yet."
"..."
Daniel's expression darkened at my words. He hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"Actually, this isn't the first time I've received an offer for an exclusive escort, but I've been doing that because the income is better when I take on work on a per-job basis."
Oh? Salary negotiations in the middle of all this?
Even the shrewdness to look out for your own interests—pass!
"The guards hired by our clan start with a salary of 60,000 gold.'
"Yes?!"
Daniel's eyes widened as if they were about to pop out at Ryan's words.
"How about it? It would be much more profitable to do the fireproofing at my house than toiling away at the labor guild all day, right?"
“Ah...yes.”
Daniel was flustered by an amount he had never heard of in his life. Only then did he belatedly cast a suspicious eye.
"But that, a certain family..."
"That's a good question. This is Count Belzer."
I reached out and pointed at Ryan, adding.
"A hero who saved the nation! He is the most famous person in the fortress capital, so you surely know him, right?"
Daniel froze with his mouth wide open.
In the old days, when the name Belzer was mentioned, the majority of people—except for the locals living in the East—would react by asking, "Is that some backwater territory?"
'Now everyone knows!'
After the [Wasenberg Family Extermination Incident], which will likely go down in the history books of the Empire, anyone who does not know the story of 'Belzer' and 'Lion' could be called a spy.
"By the way, that must be your father over there. He looks very ill."
"Ah! Yes, yes..."
I walked past Daniel, who was flustered in surprise, and approached the sick old man.
He looked so frail that it seemed difficult for him to even speak or keep his wits about him.
Seeing me standing behind his father, Daniel's lips trembled.
He probably guessed that Ryan, as well as my identity as the one who came with him, were supernatural beings from the moment he heard Belzer's story.
Perhaps that is why his expression looked desperate, as if filled with some kind of expectation.
"I'm not trying to burden you with debt, so don't take it too seriously."
<Mirror Eye - The Fountain Purification>
As a group of white light fell upon the sick man's body, Daniel stood frozen in a daze and lost his words.
"Do you want to go sign the contract?"
Ryan immediately put his arm around Daniel's shoulder and asked.
"The Bunny Clinic provides free medical services, so it won't be deducted from your salary; don't worry."
"..."
Daniel stared at his father with teary eyes for a moment, then nodded.
“Yes, as much as you want.”
***
"...Congratulations very much."
Nike greeted blankly.
A happy story he heard just as he was about to leave work after finishing his morning shift at the Knights Order.
It was the news of the Crown Princess's pregnancy.
"Thank you. Please pass the message on to the Princess as well. Tell her that I really benefited from the gift I received last time, and thank her for it."
Crown Princess Hildegard spoke with a face that looked endlessly happy.
“A gift?”
“Uh, yes.”
The answer was given by his brother, Bane.
"It was tea leaves Vania sent, saying she went to great lengths to get them, and Hilde made sure to drink them often. I'm not really sure if they were effective for conception, though..."
"Well, I'm telling you, there is!"
Hildegard slapped the back of Bane's hand and burst into laughter.
"Otherwise, how could news that was so eagerly awaited only arrive two months after drinking the tea sent by the Princess?"
"Haha. Is that so?"
His brother's lips showed no sign of drooping. Since it was the first time he had seen him look so happy, Nike was happy along with him.
"Actually, the person who was waiting the most for news of the royal grandson was the Princess."
Hildegard blushed as she stroked her unborn belly.
"She spoke so sweetly, saying that it was only right for us to have a child first, and that she was praying day and night."
"Really? Haha, that's right. Come to think of it, she did give me a fierce glint in her eyes, saying she really wanted to have children. She'll probably be the happiest if I give her the news."
"So now, you two, stop worrying about us and make plans for having children."
Nike smiled faintly at Hildegard's words.
"We already made a promise. We decided to think about it after seeing my second nephew."
"Oh my. Really? Good heavens, then do we have to make an effort one more time for the two of you?"
"Hahahahaha!"
After congratulating his brother and sister-in-law once again for their happy smiles, Nike left the imperial palace.
As he stepped out, he thought of Vania.
After seeing my second nephew.
That compromise was Nike's proposal.
He thought his wife was still too young, and knowing that the existence of a child would change her life in one way or another, he wanted to take his time with her.
For now, he also wants to enjoy their newlywed life just the two of them...
No, actually, putting all that aside.
'Child?'
He still felt that a child was a bit of a burden.
The fact that there is another being in the world whom he will come to love as much as Vania.
Because he's afraid of that fact.
Because he is a person who has absolutely no idea how far he would go for love.
Vania, two, three...
If you think it will increase.
'Hmm.'
It's hard to handle. He might end up selling out the country two or three more times.
'Please don't do that.'
So these days, even though Nike could not reduce the magnitude of his love for Vania, he was trying to at least train his mind to prevent himself from losing his reason at the slightest provocation.
To acknowledge the fact that while they may be each other's first, they are not each other's whole world.
This mental discipline began thanks to Vania, who stayed out overnight as often as eating a meal to reunite with her family.
Isn't it funny?
Before the regression, when every surrounding circumstance hindered their love, they actually felt like each other's whole world.
Now that worry-free days have arrived, he realized that there are many other people besides him whom the other person loves, cherishes, and wants to protect.
That fact must be acknowledged.
Even if he sometimes feels hurt, he must learn to understand generously and not restrict them.
Marriage merely binds each other as the closest protectors and family; it is not an institution designed to make one think of the other as a possession.
Right, even without obsessing over it, doesn't Vania belong very deeply to him, and he belongs very deeply to Vania?
"If the Prince were ugly, Bunny would never have gone to see flowers with him."
Haha, you mischievous family!
Given our relationship, why would we care about such a prank?
After going through countless hardships and suffering, and coming back after a long time, they have finally managed to hold each other's hands.
That heart is by no means shallow.
Therefore, Nike did not care about or get hurt by such words yesterday.
Not at all!
Really!
So what, are you saying Vania will waver if another handsome guy shows up?
Do you think her feelings would change if my appearance changed as time passed and I got older?
Vania is a stunning beauty, and Nike is good-looking too, but it was embarrassing to even include it among the hundreds of reasons to love.
If I had fallen in love merely because she was pretty, would I have sold my country for Vania?
Of course, the same goes for Vania...
Stop.
Arrived in front of the Count's mansion before he knew it.
Vania's familiar laughter came over from beyond the wide-open gate.
Have a nice day.
She was sitting at an outdoor table in the garden.
Together with a man with an unfamiliar face.
Nike's uselessly good eyes detected the face of a strikingly handsome stranger from afar in just one second.
"Ever since you were little, you've been going around singing about how you'd meet a handsome person."
Who is that?
What makes you smile like that?
Ah. Of course, I don't misunderstand.
I don't know who it is, but they must have something to say for sitting side by side like that, talking. Talking? Of course she can. Vania has eyes, a mouth, and the freedom to communicate with others.
...Ha.
But why am I so angry?
"Woah!"
“Surprise!”
Ryan, who had approached before anyone realized it, surprised Nike.
He looked at Vania's table, then turned his head back to stare intently at Nike's expression, and soon grinned.
"What?"
“Huh~?”
Ryan put his index finger to his lower lip with a hateful expression, then stood with his legs crossed and spoke.
“Welcome, angry?”
"..."
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment